Waldorf Salad
Updated
Updated
This creamy Waldorf Salad recipe includes a variety of fruit, crunchy celery, toasty walnuts, and a wonderful refreshing sweet dressing. It’s perfect served in bowls or on lettuce leaves for a spring or summer brunch, lunch, the holidays, or any time!
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5 STAR REVIEWS
Including tart apples, grapes, toasted nuts, and a creamy sweet dressing, a Waldorf Salad has so much flavor and texture. Perfectly refreshing for springtime or on a hot summer day, but also great for bunches, bridal showers, and a simple side to go with any dinner. It’s wonderful.
What is Waldorf Salad?
This salad was first served at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in 1893 for a charity event, thus the name. Then in 1896, the salad appeared in Oscar of the Waldorf’s Cookbook, by Oscar Tschirky, who was the maître d’ of the hotel and credited for this salad creation. Originally the salad only included apples, celery, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. The grapes and nuts came much later.
Tips and Variations
Over the years, like so many classic recipes, it’s been altered. Everyone has their favorite version of the Waldorf Salad! The recipe I’m sharing is my favorite, but here are some ways to change it up, if preferred.
- Make the dressing lump-free. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature and blend with an electric mixer before adding the other ingredients to ensure the dressing is smooth, creamy, and lump-free.
- Use additional yogurt instead of mayo. If you do, though, I would suggest adding a touch of honey to balance out the tart yogurt flavor.
- Try it with pears. Swap out the apples with pears for a different, but delicious flavor.
- Don’t like celery? Replace the celery with jicama so you still have the crunch.
- Add in raisins. This is a nice salad addition for a little natural sweetness.
- Add some protein. Toss in some chopped up baked chicken breast for more of a meal.
- You might need extra dressing. Keep in mind that if you add ingredients, instead of replacing, you may need to make extra dressing.
Creamy Waldorf Salad
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 ounces cream cheese, , softened
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples, , cubed
- 1 cup red grapes, , cut in half
- 3/4 cup sliced celery
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
- Bibb lettuce, , for serving, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat 1 & 1/2 ounces softened cream cheese until creamy and lump-free.
- Blend in 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, and 1/4 cup sugar until combined and smooth.
- Add in 3 cubed Granny Smith apples, 1 cup halved red grapes, 3/4 cup sliced celery, and 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts; toss to coat.
- Serve in bowls or on lettuce and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
Proper Storage
- Can you make Waldorf salad in advance? You can, but this salad is best served the same day you make it. The longer it sits, the dressing will separate and start to get runny.
- How long does Waldorf salad keep? As mentioned above, this salad is best served the same day you make it. However, it will keep in the fridge, in an airtight container up to 3 days. Stir to incorporate everything again before serving.
- Can you freeze Waldorf salad? No, sorry. Once thawed the fruit will be mushy and the dressing will be a runny mess.
More Classic Salad Recipes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
I have never cared much for Waldorf Salad, until I made this recipe to fill a request. I had never used cream cheese and yogurt in the dressing. What a difference!! Everyone enjoyed it.
This recipe is perfect. My family loves it. I have made it 3 times since making it the first time.. It will be a favorite at parties and get togethers in the future.
I did not mix the dressing into the salad, but spooned it over the middle. This allowed guests to eat the undressed fruit…which made many guests happy.
Served this at a baby shower and everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. Thank you!
YUMMY!!
This was wonderful! So delicious and easy to make. Great flavor contrast.
Love Waldorf salad. This was the first time I’d ever made the dressing with Greek yogurt and loved it!
Tried and loved the Waldorf salad!
Great recipe!
I accidently bought vanilla yogurt instead of plain will it still b ok?
Hi Debbie – I personally would not use vanilla yogurt, but it might be ok. Try it?